Flash-light container



3 P. R. PUCKETT 1,772,266

FLASH LIGHT CONTAINER Original Filed Jan. 8, 1924 awupwboz Patented Aug. 5, 1930 o I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g PAUL on. ruckn'rr, or CHATTANOOGA, TENN-Essen, ASSIGNOR, BY ivrnsnn'nssren- MENTS, TO BOND ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, 'NEW YORK, A CORPORA TION or DELA ARE rrnsnarenr CONTAINER Application filed January 8, 1924, Serial no. 685,026. Renewed October 23, 1925. i

This invention relates to electric flashlights and has for its principal object the'provision of co-related features for simplifying the construction, enhancing the efliciency, and

I cheapening the cost of manufacture of flashlights generally, as well as rendering them more convenient to operate.

Another object of the invention is to con-V structja flashlight having parts so arranged that it may selectively be set to give a continuous light or to remain illuminated only while pressed by the operator, automatlcally extinguishing itself when the pressure is redisk or push button 26 which carries a metalmoved.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a flashlight operating mecha 'nism-the' inherent principle of which adapts it to both metallic and non-conductive battery containers. M l I For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as'will appear, the invention'consists.

in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the speci fication, but more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings I Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a metallic battery container showing my 1n vention arrangedtherein.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 22 ofFigure .1.

1635 Figure-3 is a longitudinal section showing my invention used in connection with a nonconductive battery container. j Figured-is a'transverse section taken along the line of Figurefa.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal View of the springfshown -in Figure 4 with the conductive extensionnecessary when used in a non-conductive container. I p w Referring now in detail to theseveral figures, and first adverting to Figures land 2,

I have shown a metallic battery casing 19 having the opposite ends preferably turned over in transverse planes to form flanges 28 and29. The upper flange, serves as a seat dor'the'reflector 8 and the lowerflange functions as a conductive abutment fora conductive partot the movable element of the switch operating mechanism which will presently be described. The upper and lower ends of the casing 19 are threaded for the reception of caps 20 and 21. 1

The cap 20 is open atthe top, being formed w1th an annular flange'22beneath which the peripheral portion of thelens'30 extends.

Said lens and reflector areclampably held in'place by the threaded cap; Y

The cap 21 is included in the switch operating means which also comprehends the fiber switch means is 'actuated,'thereby closing a circuit through the battery casing and reflece tor, lamp and other pole ofthe battery. The cap 21 is preferably open at the end to give access to the push button and is'formedwith an annular flange 23 which flange overlies theedge of the push button so as to press the push button and withit the extended portion of thespring' 12 into contact with the flange 29 when the cap 21 is screwed upon the casing. The push button'is normally biased outwardly by means of the spring,

-forminga closure for the cap.

It will be noted that the extended portion 27 of the spring falls short of reaching the periphery of the fiber push button so that it cannot under any circumstances come into contact with the cap 21. When said extended end is brought into contact with the lower end of the casing 19, by screwing the'cap 21 tightly upon the casing, the several partsare in a'position in which the flashlight produces continuous illumination. When the cap 21 is unscrewed sufficiently to permit the reciprocation of the extension of the springto a position out of contact with the lower end of said casing, the flash becomes solely under control of the push button, the circuit being closed when the push button is depressed independently of the cap in opposition to the resistance of the spring.

Figures 8,4 and 5 illustrate a slightly modifled form of the invention in which a nonconductive battery container 1 is shown, the same being preferably of fiber and having at its opposite ends metallic bushings2 and 3,.

pressed with threads for the engagement of threaded caps 4; and 5 which are cut out circularly at the ends leaving merely the narrow annular flanges 6 and 7 Both caps may be identical and therefore interchangeable.

A reflector 8 is positioned in one end of the fiber container having a peripheral flange 9 which rests upon the top edge of said container. The lens 10 rests with its circum ferentialportion in superposed relation to the flange 9 and the cap 4: screws down until the flange 6 engages the lens 10, the lens. and reflector being thus immovably held in position. The electric lamp 11 screws, in a man- 'ner well known, into the threaded socket at the lower endof the reflector.

The lens 10 maybe dispensed with, if desired, in which case the cap 4: is screwed down until the .flange'fi engages the flange 9 of the deflector.

The dry battery 12 way of-either end of the fiber container 1 before the other parts of the battery are in posit-ion and is preferably, but not necessarily an approximatelyclose fit with the side wall of saidcontainer. As shown in the drawing the battery has its outside or negative pole in contact with the central terminal of the electric lamp but the position of the battery may be reversed and the flashlight will work equallywell withthe central or carbon pole of the battery uppermost.

The switch mechanism consists of a spring, preferably a spiral as shown at .13. This spring may be formed in any desirable manner so as to normally maintain agap in the circuit including the lamp 11, said gap being closed by'com'pression-of the spring. In the present instance, that is to say, in ;the arrangement of parts shown in Figure 1,. the

spring is insulated at its base as shown at 14, where it normally rests against the battery and is provided with a terminal 15, normally spaced from the battery. The end of the spring opposite the terminal'15 is extended upwardly in. the form of a wire or rod17 which makes contact with the metal lic reflector 8 or with any other metallic part in conductive relationto the .outer terminal of the electric lamp. W'hen-the spring 13 is compressed the terminal 15 makes contact ,with the pole 16, closing a circuit which extendsfrom the, pole 16 through the spring 13, rod 17, reflector 8, outer terminal of the electric lamp, through the filament, to the central terminal of the lamp, to the opposite pole of the battery.

may heslipped in by The push button 18 preferably comprises a flat disk of slightly larger diameter than the circular opening in the cap 5 and placed beneath said cap between the flange 7 and the lower edge of the container 1. When the push button 18 is pressed inwardly the light continues to glow as long as pressure is applied, and is extinguished when the pressure upon the push button 18 is released, By screwing the cap 5"up0n' the lower 'end of the container 1 the push button18 depressed to a position in which the terminal 15 makes contact with the pole 16, and this position of the parts is maintained all the while the cap 5 remains in itsinwardly screwed position. In this manner .continuous illumination of the lamp 11 is accomplished without the necessity of continuous manual pressure upon the push button 18. It is obvious that the rod 17 could, if desired to be made discontinuous from the spring 13 but in conductive relation therewith. I

r I consider that my invention, residesprimarily in the broad aspects hcreinbefore set forth, and onlysecondarily in thedetails of construction and arrangement, wherefore I do not restrict myself to the'particular construction here disclosed, but only by the terms of the claims and the state of the prior art. c

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' .1. A portable electric light having a casing adapted to receive a battery, a reflector and a lamp secured in one end of the casing, a closure in the opposite end of the casing, said closure comprising a threaded member and a push button associated therewith, a spring maintaining the lamp in contact with the battery andbeing adapted to break the circuit, said closure beingadapted to close the circuit permanently upon screwing the closure on the casing, or close the circuit intermittently by pressing the push button to compress the spring. I 1

,2. A portable electric light having acylindrical casing adapted to receive a battery,

a lamp secured in one end of the casing, a 1 5 "closure in the oppositeend of said casing,

said closure comprising a threaded cap portion and disk-like portion associated therecap on the casing,-or to close the circuit 1ntermittently by pressing the disc portion to compress the spring. V s I 3, In a, cylindrical metallic flashlight a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an

.end closure for said casing comprising a threaded ring portionanda freely 9 3 11 disc portion associated therewith, the easing and end closure forming a part of the circuit of said flashlight, a spring maintaining the lamp in contact with the battery and adapted to press against the battery and the disc portion to break the circuit, the circuit being closed through the end closure either by screwing the end closure on to the casing or by depressing the central disc portion.

4. In a cylindrical metal flashlight a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an end closure for said casing comprising a threaded flanged ring portion and a movable disc portion adapted to fill up the opening in the ring, the casing and end closure forming a part of the circuit of said flashlight, a spring adapted normally to press against the battery and the disc portion to break the circuit, the circuit being closed through the end closure either by screwing the end closure further on to the casing or by depressing the central disc portion.

5. In a flashlight a casing having a conductive end, an end closure therefor comprising a portion advanceable upon said casing, and a resiliently depressible portion associated therewith, said depressible portion including a metallic piece in circuit with the battery of the flashlight and arranged to make contact with the end of the casing to close the circuit when the end closure is advanced upon said casing or when the depressible portion is depressed.

6. In a flashlight a casing having a conductive end, a cap portion screwable upon said casing and a resiliently depressible portion confined within said cap portion between the latter and the end of said casing, said depressibleportion including a metallic piece in circuit with the battery of the flashlight and arranged to make contact with the end of the casing to close the circuit when the cap portion is screwed upon said casing or when the depressible portion is depressed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

- PAUL R. PUCKETT. 

